General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems said that it has confirmed engineering plans for its rare earth elements separation demonstration plant with the U.S. Department of Energy.

Design and engineering were approved by the department's Advanced Manufacturing Office.

The goal of the demonstration plant is to determine what costs and performance of a commercial-scale separation and processing facility would be.

General Atomics will work with GA Europe's Umwelt-und-Ingenieurtechnik (UIT), as well as mining company Rare Element Resources and architectural and surveying firm LNV, a subsidiary of Ardurra Group.

The plant will process materials received from Rare Element Resources' Bear Lodge rare earths deposit in Wyoming.

"The project will provide valuable information regarding the development of domestic rare earth element resources and separation technologies that have the potential to improve REE supply and availability to meet growing demand," GA-EMS chief executive Scott Forney said.

Earlier this year, the Department of Energy said it had selected GA-EMS for negotiation of a financial award for the separation plant agreement. The award has been confirmed, and allows for GA-EMS to plan for the engineering of the separation plant.

The Biden administration has signaled that developing and strengthening a supply chain for rare earths minerals is a priority.